That and a book got me all inspired to go beyond, by switching my flock of Paps to a completely natural diet.
The link to the article about the Pap is below .
http://www.roadsend-papillons-phalenes.com/2013/06/papillon-megaesophagus-underweight.html
The book is mentioned one post prior to this.
We have all gotten so used to eat fast-, convenient food- and even to offer it to our 4-legged friends , but, think about it, would you want to eat what you give your pet? Little kibbles out of a big bag, all the same tasting, and every day the same? And read the labels on the bags, inform yourself what's really in the kibbles. Dog cans, are they any different? Have a look at the ingredients, would you eat it? And think about what the original canis lupus familiaris eat. Our dogs may be smaller, but they function exactly the same as their ancestors did. They are carnivores, they eat and need meat.We don't have to eat it,but they do., and it does not seem to be natural to me when it comes in a package grind down to a kibble of, who knows whats in the kibble, but packaged as "all natural "Not to speak of the money you pay for the so called "premium" stuff. For the same amount of money and a little time and labor given for the health of your friend, you can buy the real thing: a heap of quality meat, which goes quite a ways for a little Pap.
Today I want to start sharing with you my experience of the switch from commercial dog food to a natural, all real ingredients diet , so that I hopefully encourage you to follow my steps for your family of pets. (Our cat comes next!)
From now on all puppies also will be growing up on raw meat, as soon as they learn to eat. Instead to introducing them to kibbles, they will be introduced to ground meat, and goats milk.
Google has hundreds of sites about the Raw Meat Diet for dogs (BARF-Diet, Bones and Raw Feed).
You Tube also has plenty of videos for you to see how it's done, and looks.
So far all my dogs have learned to love raw meat within just a few days. I started with plain ground beef, added to their kibbles,but I also introduced them to a couple of other add-ons. (Yogurd, eggs) By now they eat hardly any kibbles, or 90% raw meat.
The process of switching is a slower process, not from one day to the next.
It is stressful for their digestive system, but not for long.
As most of other sites give you feed amounts for bigger dogs, I have converted these amounts to Papillon size.Based on a 5 LBS dog you need to feed 1+1/2-2 oz of meat , or meaty bones 2 times/day. Don't over feed!!
Keep the eggshells, from all the eggs you use (for calcium supplement), dry them, grind them in a coffee grinder, and add 1/2 teaspoon to 1 LBS of meat (1/2 teaspoon = 900MG calcium, ), if your Pap does not eat whole bones, and you feet only raw meat, with no bones, you must add calcium to his diet.
So far my dogs are still in bone-eating school, so I add calcium. It is important for me to possibly get all of them to eat bones, the results will be a 100% balanced diet.
( I will report on that hopeful success)
Next week I will have a meat grinder, I will be able to process chicken, with bones better , pork and more.I will be able to grind chicken with bones to feed them. Then they will have plenty of calcium through the bone.
If you have a butcher available you will be most likely get a much better variety of meats
Eventually It will be a completely balanced menu, consisting out of a variety of meats, and some extras.
My goal is to have
- happier, more satisfied dogs,
- shinier coats,
- clean teeth through bone chewing (no more tooth scale at the vets, less anesthesia!!)
- Eliminate skin allergies, dermatitis.
- Overall a lean-strong flock of butterflies with plenty of vigor.
To be continued.